Bok Choy

At a Glance

Bok choy is a type of cabbage with a leafy top and a firm, stalk-like bottom. The vegetable is very low in calories (only 9 calories to one cup of shredded bok choy) yet rich in vitamins. To prepare bok choy, simply remove the bottom of the stalk, then chop and cook as you would other green vegetables. (Baby bok choy is a smaller version, which is more tender and can be cooked whole.) Bok choy is commonly used in Chinese cooking, and is a great addition to stir fries and steamed mixed vegetables, though it lends itself to a variety of preparations.

Overview

Bok choy is a type of Chinese cabbage.

Identification

Bok choy is a green leafy vegetable that resembles Romaine lettuce on top and a large celery on the bottom. A single leaf of bok choy is shaped like a soup spoon. In fact, the name “bok choy” originated from the Chinese word for “soup spoon” because of the shape of its leaves.

Nutrition Info

One cup of shredded bok choy has about 9 calories, 1.1g of protein, 1.5g of carbohydrates, 0.7g of fiber, 0.8g of sugar, and 0.1g of fat.

Selection

Storage

Store bok choy in an open plastic bag in the crisper of your fridge for 2-4 days.

Preparation

Chop off the bottom inch of the stalk before washing. Wash well. You can then steam, boil, stir fry, or even microwave bok choy. You’ll know it’s ready when the leaves are just slightly wilted (usually about 3-4 minutes with all mentioned cooking methods). Note that you can purchase baby or full grown bok choy. Baby bok choy is more tender and less “chewy”.

Recipe: Bok Choy Avocado Salad

This salad makes a great lunch or side dish and best of all, it's super easy to make!

Split evenly between 2-3 salad bowls and drizzle top with a little bit of balsamic vinaigrette (if desired).

Store leftovers in fridge.

Enjoy!

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At a Glance

Bok choy is a type of cabbage with a leafy top and a firm, stalk-like bottom. The vegetable is very low in calories (only 9 calories to one cup of shredded bok choy) yet rich in vitamins. To prepare bok choy, simply remove the bottom of the stalk, then chop and cook as you would other green vegetables. (Baby bok choy is a smaller version, which is more tender and can be cooked whole.) Bok choy is commonly used in Chinese cooking, and is a great addition to stir fries and steamed mixed vegetables, though it lends itself to a variety of preparations.